topic Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process in Kitchen

Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

vaberry — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 04:13:14 GMT

As I understand it, you boil the barley for a few hours, let it cool and then use the water. You add the water to sugar and bring it to the hard candy stage.

I'm having a cookie party and want to make some barley clear toy suckers as presents.

Please share your process.

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

Poodlepet2 — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:08:16 GMT

I have never made this, but my in-laws always talked about barley candy and barley water. I googled this,: http://www.life123/food/candies . They explain the history and the "how to" and give a recipe for candy and lollipops. Poodlepet

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

Poodlepet2 — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:10:48 GMT

PS, if this doesn't work for you or you have questions, Chickenbutt would probably be a font of information. She was a Confectioner. Poodlepet

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

Barbarainnc — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:24:05 GMT

Never heard of this kind of candy??

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

ValuSkr — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:35:23 GMT

It's a hard, clear (colored) candy that's made using molds. You can buy at Shane's Candies in Philadelphia but very expensive (considering it's just hard candy).

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

Barbarainnc — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 20:12:25 GMT

Too pretty to eat!!!

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

ValuSkr — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 21:08:17 GMT

On 11/11/2014 Barbarainnc said:
Too pretty to eat!!!

I agree! In fact, I'd use them as decoration rather than treat, if I was inclined to spend that kind of money.

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

ceh — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 21:11:32 GMT

On 11/11/2014 Barbarainnc said:
Too pretty to eat!!!

But they are smooth and delicious! Growing up in Phila, my grandparents bought them every year and we loved them!

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

ValuSkr — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:05:04 GMT

Here's a video that shows Shane Confectionery making its Clear Toy Candy. I guess I can understand why it's so pricey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3NHOTnozgQ

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

Cookie2025 — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:07:22 GMT

OMGoodness - I loved these candies -I think we had them on a stick .... mmm

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

Carmie — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:22:32 GMT

Clear toy candy is very inexpensive to make once you pay for the candy molds. I make a lot of it for the holidays every year.

The cast iron candy molds I use are not cheap and they can be difficult to find. I collect them all year long, buying them where I can find them. (look on e-bay)

Cake and Kandy Emporium sells them starting at $45 each up to hundreds of dollars. (That's why the candy is expensive to buy)

I don't know anyone who still uses barley sugar. I make mine with cane sugar (never beet sugar) They are not difficult to make, but the sugar mixture is VERY hot. I have been burned a few times and the burns are nasty.

My recipe uses only sugar...others use corn syrup as well, but I don't eat corn syrup so I use an old recipe that doesn't include it.

You will need:

4 cups of cane sugar

1 cup water

1/4 tea. cream of tartar

heavy pot to cook it...a pour spout is helpful

candy thermometer

candy molds that can withstand high temperatures

oil, canola or any light tasting oil

red, green food coloring, if desired (yellow is the natural color and dye isn't needed for this)

Prepare candy molds by making sure they are clean. Coat with a little oil. If they are in 2 pieces, put together with strong rubber bands. Place molds on a cookie sheet (to collect any leaks)

Mix, sugar, water and cream of tartar in your pot. Stir gently to incorporate. Place candy thermometer on the pan so that the bottom touches the mixture, but not the bottom of the pan.

Cook on medium heat...do not stir. Keep checking the thermometer, do not walk away. If you want to add color, add it when the temp is 260 degrees. Again, do not stir when adding color.

Cook until the mixture reaches 300 degrees. Remove from the heat. Do not stir.

Wait a minute or two to cool, and then slowly pour into the molds. Add sticks if desired when the mixture cools a little bit for lollipops. Don't wait too long or it will harden. You have to watch it carefully.

I let the mixture cool a bit until the molds are warm and easy to handle. Then I open the molds and pop the candy out to cool completely. Sometimes I need to use a butter knife to help open the molds.

Store in a plastic bag or tin.

Notes: I don't use food coloring, so all mine are old fashioned yellow.

If you don't have molds, you can pour the mixture onto an oiled cookie sheet with sides. Make sure you pour the mixture thin enough for you to crack into pieces when it's cool.

Do not use plastic candy molds...they will melt. Silicone is ok, but your candy will be flat on one side which is ok. Silicone molds are super easy to use and great for a first time candy maker. Aluminum molds work great too.

Some people like to add flavors such as peppermint, cherry or grape. Add at 260 degrees, if desired.

Always use gloves or protection on your hands when pouring. Keep children and pets out of the kitchen while pouring.

I have found that this works best in small batches. Do not double the recipe unless your molds are large enough to hold a double batch. The candy mixture will harden in the pan.

If you stir while or after cooking you will have bubble toy candy, not clear toy candy.

I have used this mixture to dip apples on a stick too. So yummy.

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

Carmie — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 06:41:05 GMT

Oh, I forgot to mention, if you want to make the candy the old fashioned way. You would just use 1 cup of the water, strained off from cooking barley instead of just water.

I personally do not know of anyone who does that anymore. I don't know if that would enhance the flavor.

Let me know if you make it that way and how it turns out.

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

ValuSkr — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 17:30:17 GMT

Thanks for the detailed explanation, Carmie! I don't have a candy thermometer and would have to buy molds, so doubt I'd make them. But your write-up is interesting.

Re: Barley Clear toy candy- Please share recipe and process

vaberry — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 17:47:25 GMT

On 11/11/2014 Carmie said:
Oh, I forgot to mention, if you want to make the candy the old fashioned way. You would just use 1 cup of the water, strained off from cooking barley instead of just water.

I personally do not know of anyone who does that anymore. I don't know if that would enhance the flavor.

Let me know if you make it that way and how it turns out.

Thank you. I'm going to make a trial batch this weekend. I'll let you know how they turn out.